Short Summary

One of the most important shops ever built, the steamship Great Britain, is on her way back to the English port of Bristol -- where she was constructed 127 years ago.

Description

One of the most important shops ever built, the steamship Great Britain, is on her way back to the English port of Bristol -- where she was constructed 127 years ago.

In her day the Great Britain claimed two unique distinctions. She was the first propeller-driven ocean going ship and the first vessel of this type to be built of iron. Now the rusting hulk has been salvaged from the Falkland Islands and has just reached Montevideo on the way back to Britain.

In England, the preservation of the Greek Britain has developed into a major campaign headed by Lord Strathcona and naval architect Dr. Ewan Corlett. They travelled to Uruguay where the ship arrived on Sunday (May 3). She is being towed back to Bristol mounted clear of the water on a huge pontoon.

It will probably take another seven weeks to complete the journey back to Britain. The campaign organisers hope that the Great Britain will be berthed in the very dock where she was built.

Leaders of the campaign to preserve the ship hope to raise another GBP200,000 (480,000 dollars) to cover restoration costs. The project will take about two years to complete, converting the present rusty hulk into what was -- in 1843 -- the most lavish ocean going liner in the world.